Police are now reviewing all the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages near the assassination site of veteran broadcast journalist Percival Mabasa, popularly known as Percy Lapid, in Las Piñas City as the investigation continues to determine the motive and eventually identify the people behind the attack.
This developed as Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), visited the wake of Mabasa.
Police Col. Restituto Arcangel, deputy director for Operations of the Southern Police District (SPD), said they are also collating more CCTV footages for review especially on the entry and exit points of the two attackers—one riding a motorcycle while the other one was driving a white Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
“We are conducting follow-up on the CCTVs installed in areas where the victim passed by and until the in the area where the incident happened. We are also now reviewing all the CCTVs that we have,” said Arcangel in an interview over Teleradyo.
Mabasa was gunned down on Monday night, Oct. 3, in front of the gate of BF homes in Barangay Talon Dos in Las Piñas City.
Based on the report, the white SUV deliberately bumped the vehicle of Lapid from behind and later, the gunman on board a motorcycle shot him twice.
Arcangel, however, said that there is still no witness so far to determine the motive behind the attack.
But he said the police are now looking at all angles, including the nature of the job of the victim.
Mabasa is a known hard-hitting journalist who criticizes abuses and wrongdoings in the government.
One of the recent criticisms of Lapid was on the proliferation of fake news and red-tagging of critics of the government.
“We are all looking into all angles, every possibility including the nature of the job of Percival Mabasa. As we go along with the investigation, we will also look into any angle that may come up,” said Arcangel.
So far, Arcangel said they are focusing on the two suspects who carried out the attacks, especially based on the CCTVs.
He said that what the police have established so far was that the suspects waited for Mabasa at the attack site, or in front of the subdivision where he lives, and that they studied the routine of the victim.
“Right now, we cannot pinpoint specific suspects, except for the two who carried out the attack,” said Arcangel.
But he assured the family of the victim and the public that the police are serious in solving the case.